(This story has been updated to add information.)
Beau Bayh, son of former Democratic Indiana Gov. and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, officially announced he is running for Indiana secretary of state next year in the hopes of challenging incumbent Republican Diego Morales.
Here’s what to know about Beau Bayh’s announcement.
Who is Beau Bayh?
Along with being the son and grandson of two former U.S. senators — Evan Bayh and Birch Bayh — and the heir to a Democratic political dynasty in Indiana, the younger Bayh, 29, is a Harvard Law School-educated, U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer who recently completed a judicial clerkship for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Who is Beau Bayh running against?
Bayh plans to challenge Morales, the Republican incumbent who first won election to the office in 2022.
But it’s not clear yet who exactly will be on the ballot, as both Bayh and Morales face challenges at their respective party conventions.
Morales is being challenged by at least two other Republicans: Knox County Clerk David Shelton and Jamie Reitenour, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate.
On the Democratic side, Blythe Potter has announced her candidacy for the seat.
Is Beau Bayh a Democrat?
Yes, Bayh is a Democrat. He is apparently reticent to define where he falls on the political spectrum, casting himself in his campaign announcement as above partisan politics, even though he comes from a long line of Democrats.
Who is Diego Morales?
Morales won the 2022 election 54-40 against Democrat Destiny Wells. He’s been mired in controversies since that election, where he faced an allegation that he committed voter fraud.
Since then, he’s taken overseas trips, bought a luxury taxpayer-funded SUV, doled out no-bid state contracts to campaign donors and more.
Republicans have recently been more critical of Morales, even drafting legislation in the most recent legislative session to require more transparency from state officeholders in the wake of some of his scandals.
Why is Beau Bayh running?
He told IndyStar’s opinion editor James Briggs that he believes elected officeholders like Morales are serving themselves, not constituents.“I’m concerned about the type of leadership that we’re seeing here in Indiana today,” Bayh said. “Too often, I’m seeing folks in Indianapolis forgetting about the true essence of public service, which is about giving back and helping others.
Has Diego Morales responded?
Yes. Morales posted on social media calling Bayh an “East coast liberal.”
“Beau Bayh is back from the East Coast and looking for votes in Indiana,” reads the post, which links to a fundraising page. “Democrats spent millions against me in 2022 and it wasn’t close. Let’s make sure it’s not close this time either.”
When is the election?
The general election for secretary of state is November, 3, 2026. Democrats and Republicans will formally choose their party’s nominated candidate in party conventions next summer. Candidates must be nominated by July 15, 2026.
Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Beau Bayh is running for secretary of state. What to know about him and his opponents
Reporting by Hayleigh Colombo, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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